10 Days Northern Greece, Macedonia & Epirus 4-13 June 2021
Mountains, Gorges and Lakes of Northern Greece
Walking with nature and history. This tour of the little visited and largely unknown part of northern Greece will provide a regular series of wonderful backdrops to stimulate our imagination as we traverse from east to west exploring Greece’s impressive mountains, deep gorges and placid lakes through fascinating gentle walks.
Highlights
Lake Kerkini hosts thousands of birds, riverside forests, water-lilies in an idyllic site, from where there are panoramic views of the Belles mountain range to the north.
Prespa is a national park of great significance due to its biodiversity and endemic species. The lakes provide a stunning sight, reflecting the surrounding mountains in their waters. Local inhabitants are concentrated in the attractive villages surrounding the lakes. This is a magical world of incomparable natural beauty.
The mountainous area of Zagori in Epirus is part of the now enlarged Pindos National Park and is completely unspoilt. The vast forests are still home to populations of the European brown bear, wolves and possibly lynx. The spectacular Vikos Gorge, craggy mountain peaks, rushing rivers, numerous fine arched bridges, and picturesque stone built villages, flowery meadows and occasional gliding raptors complete the scene.
Tour content
General interest, landscapes, nature and history
PRICE € 986 per person (sharing twin-bedded room)
Single room supplement €238
INCLUDED
Assistance upon arrival and departure
Coach with driver throughout
3 star hotels and guesthouses in twin-bedded rooms with private facilities/breakfast
Service of leader
VAT & taxes
NOT INCLUDED
Flights to/from Thessaloniki
Tips/porterage
Beverages, drinks, extras
Meals, allow approx. €12 – €18 per meal excluding wine
Entrance fees to sites, museums and sanctuaries
10 Days Northern Greece, Macedonia & Epirus 4-13 June 2021
DAY
1
DAY 01 – ARRIVAL THESSALONIKI / LAKE KERKINI
Arrive Thessaloniki airport. Depart for Lake Kerkini by coach. The ride will be approximately 2 hours. Optional dinner. Overnight in the village of Ano Poroia.
DAY
2
DAY 02 – LAKE KERKINI
Bus ride to Lake Kerkini for a walk along the shore enjoying the mass of birds. En route a picnic. Followed by a further short ride to the village of Kerkini for a coffee. Then return to Ano Poroia . Optional dinner. Overnight.
DAY
3
DAY 03 – MOUNT BELLES
Walk up to the slopes of Mt Belles a fascinating walk through forest and alpine meadows. Picnic. Descend to Ano Poroia enjoying wonderful views of Lake Kerkini. Return to Ano Poroia. Optional dinner. Overnight.
DAY
4
DAY 04 – VERGINA / PRESPA LAKES
Depart for Prespa by coach. En route calling at Vergina, to view the Royal Macedonian Tombs with their gold treasures. Continue to Prespa Lakes. At the village of Agios Germanos. Time for a relaxing walk to wander through the picturesque village with its characteristic traditional architecture. Optional dinner. Overnight
DAY
5
DAY 05 -PRESPA LAKES
There will be short walks to the river where the old unused water-mill is. Drive to Krina hill to observe the nesting Pelicans on Mikri Prespa Lake. Then continue on foot by crossing over a pontoon bridge for a walk around the tiny tranquil island of Agios Achilleios with the ruins of a monastery. Lunchbreak. Return to Agios Germanos. Optional dinner. Overnight.
DAY
6
DAY 06 – PRESPA / NYMPHAION / BEAR SANCTUARY
Day trip by coach to the attractive village of Nymphaion. A stroll through its cobbled streets to view the traditional homes and mansions. A walk through the forest will led us to the Arcturos bear sanctuary. Return to Agios Germanos. Optional dinner.
DAY
7
DAY 07 – PRESPA / KASTORIA / ZAGORI
Depart for Kastoria, attractive lakeside town with traditional architecture. We walk along the pleasant shaded lakeshore. Break for lunch, before continuing to Zagori. Optional dinner. Overnight at Kipi.
DAY
8
DAY 08 – OXIA / VITSA / KOKORI BRIDGE
Drive to Oxia, walk to view upland meadows and Vikos Gorge. Break for lunch. From Vitsa we take an unforgettable walk down a beautiful old paved mule road to Kokori bridge. Coach return to Kipi. Optional dinner. Overnight.
DAY
9
DAY 09 -VRADETO / DILOFO / KIPI
Drive to Vradeto from where we will take a walk to Beloe for dramatic views of the Vikos gorge from the highest point and marvelous plants on all sides. Drive to Dilofo, a particularly attractive village where there will be an opportunity for lunch in the tiny square completely shaded by one enormous oriental plane tree. Then set off to walk back to Kipi through beautiful open forest. Finally we pass over a fine arched bridge and return to the hotel. Optional dinner. Overnight.
DAY
10
DAY 10 – ZAGORI / IOANNINA / THESSALONIKI
Departure for Thessaloniki via Ioannina.
Flights
There are many daily flights to Thessaloniki. If you require further information from your point of origin anywhere in the world please do not hesitate to contact us by e-mail info@mostgreece.com we would be pleased to assist you.
Group Size
15 – 20 persons
Weather
15 – 25 °C Mainly sunny, rain possible.
Evening Meals
There are some many excellent places to eat and mostly we will all eat together although anybody wishing to opt out is welcome to.
Walks
These are optional and vary between 4-8 kms. Most paths are in reasonably good condition but anybody coming should be happy to walk up steps and negotiate some moderate ascents.
PRICE € 986 per person (sharing twin-bedded room)
Single room supplement €238
INCLUDED
Assistance upon arrival and departure
Coach with driver throughout
3 star hotels and guesthouses in twin-bedded rooms with private facilities/breakfast
Service of leader
VAT & taxes
NOT INCLUDED
Flights to/from Thessaloniki
Tips/porterage
Beverages, drinks, extras
Meals, allow approx. €12 – €18 per meal excluding wine
Entrance fees to sites, museums and sanctuaries
Booking information – How to book – Terms and Conditions
Most Greece is trading under the tour operator Palandjian World Ltd
How to Book a Most Greece Tour
Early application is recommended to avoid disappointment. Complete the on line booking request and we will reply with confirmation to your e-mail address.
Deposits Required
For our tours € 250 (euros) per person is required (or full payment if the booking is made within two months of departure).Upon receipt of your deposit we will send you a confirmation receipt.
How to Pay
By secure payment link or by bank transfer. We do not accept American Express cards. Please Note: Credit card charges are non-refundable under any circumstance.
Payment of Balance
The full payment is due two calendar months prior to departure.
Insurance
It is essential that you have full insurance cover in force for the duration of the tour. Please note your insurance will not be effective and you will not be covered for cancellation charges until you pay the full premium. We require all participants to have adequate travel insurance covering accidents, sickness, medical expenses, repatriation and personal liability as well as cancelled, delayed and missed departure. We also recommend ensuring you have cancellation cover in place for all tours, from the time of booking.
Flight arrangements
It is your own responsibility to book and pay for your flights to Greece. Upon booking your flights, please complete the Flight Confirmation Form at least 2 months before commencement of the tour and send by e-mail.
Fitness to Travel
Passengers should be in good health as all tours involve a fair amount of walking often over uneven cobbled streets, rough paths, steep hillsides or steps.
Accommodation
Hotel accommodation is in twin-sharing or double-bedded rooms with private bath or shower and toilet. We will try to accommodate clients who request single rooms. We will also try to accommodate clients travelling on their own but wishing to share, but if there is no other single person on the tour willing also to share we will have to charge the single room supplement.
Special Requests
Any special requests made on your booking form will be noted and we will do our best to provide these for you. We cannot, however, guarantee to comply with your request.
Changes by Most Greece
At present all information regarding the tour has been checked and is, to the best of our knowledge, correct. However, for reasons beyond our control, changes may need to be made to hotels, programmes and leaders. We cannot therefore guarantee that itineraries and programmes will be followed as published.
Cancellation by Customers
Should you have to cancel your tour, you should notify us in writing advising us of the reason for cancellation. The scale of cancellation charges is calculated according to the number of days prior to departure that written notice is received by us.
